In 1903, a Cleveland-born businessman named Franklin Felix Nicola, who had moved to Pittsburgh in the mid-1890s, bought the last parcels of land in Oakland left after the death of heiress Mary Schenley that year. Nicola had already built a glamorous hotel on a nearby site that he’d purchased from Schenley in 1897, and part of what he planned for the additional land was a residential enclave of the highest quality. By 1906, he had commissioned several well-regarded local architects to design model houses in various architectural styles common at the time. Over the following 15 years, Nicola constructed 96 houses on the flat portion of his site (another 39 were built on a terrace of land above this), subject to design guidelines and incorporating innovative features like underground electrical and telephone lines. This tour will visit the flat, gridded part of Schenley Farms, which, to this day, rewards pedestrians with multiple charms.

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Tour Meeting Point: Parking pad in front of the Latin American Cultural Center, 4338 Bigelow Boulevard, Pittsburgh 15213

Tour Ending Point: Schenley Plaza, 4100 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15213

Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time in order to ensure that the tour gets underway on time. Dress for the weather (Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation’s tours proceed in all weather!), and wear comfortable clothing. By purchasing a ticket for this tour, you acknowledge that you are physically able to undertake the tour, assume all personal risk during the tour, consent to being photographed during the tour, and permit PHLF to use your image in our communications.

This tour is handicap accessible. Please notify us of your needs two business days in advance of the tour.

In the 1890s the City Beautiful urban planning philosophy emerged in the U.S. in response to the squalor and physical chaos caused by very rapid industrial and urban growth in the late 19th century. The movement’s goal was to beautify, introduce physical order, and bring monumental grandeur into the urban mess, to improve the physical, emotional, and moral health of cities’ residents. Oakland was the Pittsburgh neighborhood in which these principles took architectural form, thanks to Cleveland-born real estate developer Franklin Nicola. By the 1930s, the City Beautiful monuments were joined by several buildings constructed by or for the educational institutions with which Oakland is now so closely identified.

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This tour will take in six Oakland buildings on the stretch of Fifth Avenue from the Mellon Institute to Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum that have become icons of institutional Oakland.

Tour Meeting Point: Entrance to Mellon Institute, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh 15213

Tour Ending Point: Schenley Plaza, 4100 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15213

Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time in order to ensure that the tour gets underway on time. Dress for the weather (Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation’s tours proceed in all weather!), and wear comfortable clothing.

By purchasing a ticket for this tour, you acknowledge that you are physically able to undertake the tour, assume all personal risk during the tour, consent to being photographed during the tour, and permit PHLF to use your image in our communications.

This tour is handicap accessible. Please notify us of your needs two business days in advance of the tour.

Presented by Sky Elements: A custom drone light show, set to an electrifying soundtrack, will illuminate the night sky and captivate the audience. Enjoy Glow games on the lawn, live music, and entertainment starting at 2:30pm. The drone show kicks-off at 7:00pm.

All ages | Free event | Schenley Plaza

GLOW gear, s’mores, and seasonal cocktails & mocktails, will be available for purchase.

Schedule of events

2:30-3:30pm | Element Dance (main stage)

3:30-4:30pm | Tuba Holiday (under the Plaza tent)

4:00pm-8:00pm | GLOW Lounge, seasonal cocktails & mocktails, for purchase, in our illuminated setting

4:30-5:15pm | Mani Bahia (main stage)

5:00pm-7:00pm | Performance by O’RYAN THE O’MAZING Stilt Walker & Juggler

5:15-5:45pm | Kidmental (Main stage)

5:45-6:15pm | Austin Bey (Main stage)

6:15-7:00pm | Stone Throwers (main stage)

7:00-7:15pm | Drone show presented by sky elements & Austin Bey (main stage)

7:15-7:30pm | Austin Bey (main stage)

Projections Installation by Alejandra Abad

Title: Vida

Media: Video Projection with Audio

Location: Frick Fine Arts Building

Start time: Dusk

In 1889, Mary Schenley donated 300 acres of land to the City of Pittsburgh to create the parkthat bears her name. By the turn of the 20th century, the construction of other amenities transformed Oakland from a partially rural area into Pittsburgh’s original cultural district. Join docents from Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation for a tour that includes Schenley Park, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Carnegie Library and Museums, and other sites.

Learn how these philanthropic gifts drew people from around the growing industrial city for respite, enlightenment, and aesthetic pleasure. Complete your outing by enjoying GLOWLAND events and activities at Schenley Plaza.

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Tour Meeting Point: Outside the Schenley Park Café and Visitor Center, 101 Panther Hollow Road, Pittsburgh 15213

Tour Ending Point: Schenley Plaza, 4100 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15213

Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time in order to ensure that the tour gets underway on time. Dress for the weather (Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation’s tours proceed in all weather!), and wear comfortable clothing.

By purchasing a ticket for this tour, you acknowledge that you are physically able to undertake the tour, assume all personal risk during the tour, consent to being photographed during the tour, and permit PHLF to use your image in our communications.

This tour is handicap accessible. Please notify us of your needs two business days in advance of the tour.

Bring the whole family for a full day of free activities at Schenley Plaza. Activities include: story time, live music, face painting, balloon art, a glow in the dark puppet show, button and tote bag making, the Glow Parade and more! Crafts and activities are provided by Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Library, Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh City Paper, and Art Image Resource.

All ages | Free event

Schedule of events

1:30pm-7:00pm: Enjoy Glow games on the Schenley Plaza lawn

1:30pm-4:30pm: Mike the Balloon Guy, Balloon Artist & Face Painter

2:00pm-5:00pm: Activity stations from local partners such as the Carnegie Library, Phipps Conservatory, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh City Paper, and Artist Image Resource. Complimentary drinks provided by *Pepsi Co. *(​while supplies last)

2:30pm: Live ice sculpture show by Rich Bubin

3:00-5:00pm: Double Dutch Swing Squad

5:00pm: Glow in the dark puppet show by Pittsburgh Puppet Works

6:00pm: Live music performance by Kelsey Friday and the Rest of the Week

6:45pm: GLOW Parade, a music filled fun parade around Schenley Plaza led by the lively and talented Eagleburger Band

Experience the creations of local artists and performers that intersect performance, real-time visuals, live coding and nightlife. LIVE! Art && Code is produced by The Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry.

Viva Los Tacos: 3901 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213

All ages | Free event

A fiery night of entertainment, dancing, themed cocktails, and food from Oakland's finest food purveyors. Join us at the iconic PAA building, illuminated for the holidays by artist Ian Brill, to celebrate GLOWLAND Pittsburgh's premier winter lighting festival in the heart of Oakland.

VIP hour: 6:00pm-7:00pm

VIP tickets include: Open bar from 6pm-7pm, plus two additional drink tickets to be used during the event, early entry to the party, hors d’oeuvres and bites from Oakland’s food purveyors, entertainment, & a swag bag. Drinks will be available for purchase after the use of drink tickets.

General admission tickets include: two drink tickets, hors d’oeuvres and bites from Oakland’s food purveyors, & entertainment. Drinks will be available for purchase after the use of drink tickets.

Music by Arie Cole

Attire: It’s time to glow up and kick-off the holidays in style. Glimmer, dazzle, sparkle, or glow in your most festive & fun cocktail attire.

This event is 21+

Disclaimer: The lighting sequences could potentially cause adverse reactions to those with sensory issues, light sensitivity, or are prone to seizures.